5 Dollar Preps

Here in my home state of Maine, water and its associated lifeforms are in abundant supply. As such, I can – and do – absolutely plan on catching fish to accentuate my diet in case of emergency. Fortunately, fish are (relatively) easy to catch, and as long as you have just a smattering of moderately… Read More

It is an interesting paradox that teeth are the hardest part of the human body and often seem to succumb first to dietary and lifestyle imbalances.  Of course, this is for some obvious reasons: like that they are exposed (where bones are hidden within the body) and that it is their hard design in which… Read More

As far as survival skill sets are concerned, one of the most underrated and under researched skills I can think of is lock picking. In the circles I know of and generally run with, emphasis is definitely on the “beans and bullets” mentality….and that’s pretty much about it. Expansion of survival skill set horizons is… Read More

Of all the everyday carry (EDC) gear and survival kit, the compass seems to be something relegated to just a generic noun as if all compasses were the same. The problem is that compasses vary wildly in quality, size, features, and durability. However, the most important feature of a compass is convenience because if you… Read More

The concept of a Grey Man, or pretty much a grey anything is simply using the word grey as an adjective to describe transparency. Many people think that Grey means blending it, but that can be just as dangerous as standing out. Blending in means you are one of the many, and of equal value… Read More

Paracord used to be used as the suspension lines for parachutes. After landing on the ground soldiers would cut the cord from their chutes because they found a multitude of uses for the light weight, durable cordage. Today, paracord has become incredibly popular not only with the military but with the civilian sector as well… Read More

Awhile back my washing machine broke down over a holiday weekend.  Instead of hauling the dirty laundry to a laundry mat, I decided that this would be a great opportunity to finally try out using a 5 gallon bucket to wash clothes.  Sometimes a little adversity is what you need to really be prepared.  Clothes… Read More

This is sewing for the caveman in you, or cavewoman.  If you have a well thought out Bug Out Bag, then repair gear is included in it.  A small sewing kit, duct tape, multi-tool, IFAK, and maybe some cable ties.  I have been putting a heavy sail needle and thick thread in my kits forever. … Read More

I’m willing to bet that at least 90% of the people reading this article have to function under a budget of sorts.  Bills need to be paid, houses need to be heated, cars need to be maintained, stomachs need to be fed.  It’s a fact of life and how we have to operate on a… Read More

If you read my post on 7 Tips For Your Bug Out Bag, considered this part II.  Many posts on Bug Out Bags out there in the blogosphere talk about specific items being better than others.  I prefer comparing ideas instead of whether a Mora is better than a Bushman for low budget survival, boy… Read More

Ok, ok, I hear the chuckles now from across the room at the Bug Out Bag (BOB) planning meetings, but this is a serious product for survivalists and preppers and generally all outdoors people whether actually outdoors or in the cabin, RV, or home, doing a Bug In or a Bug Out.  Although there are… Read More

Looking for a light, inexpensive, DIY alternative for boiling water while backpacking or camping? Have you bugged in without heat and power? Have you bugged out to find that your manufactured stove has broken? From the casual traveled to the hardcore prepper, the alcohol stove is a fun, handy, and ingenious little piece of technology… Read More

There are a thousand ways you can make a shelter out of tarp.  It’s a great piece of knowledge to have, so I’m going to show you an easy system I came up with.  The first thing you need is a tarp.  The bigger the tarp the larger your shelter will be, so keep that… Read More

Fire starting is at or near the top of all survival checklists with redundancy of method also on the list.  In reality, keeping the fire alive is arguably more important than starting one since the burning flame does the work, not the ignition.  But of course the fire must begin somehow.  Most kits have multiple… Read More

Ebola is not over.  As it becomes more clear that Ebola is firmly a worldwide problem, there may have been unintentional exposure to hundreds of people outside of the hot zone.  To be prepared, you should have a few things on hand that will keep you safer than without them. Ebola is a serial killer… Read More

Being able to start a fire in an emergency situation is critical to your survival.  Fire provides warmth, comfort, protection, and the ability to purify water.  A low cost do it yourself fire starter might be just what you are looking for. By Dave H, a reader of SurvivalCache.com Here is a cheap and effective… Read More

The ability to purify water in an emergency situation is not a “nice thing to have”, it is an essential part of your preparedness plan.  Whether you are planning to bug in or bug out, safe drinking water is the foundation for survival. By Dave H, a reader of SurvivalCache.com In my never ending quest… Read More

If you read my review of the AMK Emergency Bivvy Sack you know I’m not a big fan of Mylar Emergency Blankets but the AMK Emergency Bivvy is awesome. Sure they’re cheap, small, and light but they are also just a square and not conducive to wrapping up or shelter building. Now I’ve found a… Read More

The 5 Dollar Preps series is to show people that even if you don’t have a lot of extra cash you can still do a lot to get prepared. Last week we got some first aid supplies and a basic fishing kit. This week Zack got some things for gun cleaning, and I put together… Read More

We decided to start another new weekly column here on Survival Cache called 5 Dollar Preps. Each week we are going to buy $5 dollars worth of survival gear to show people that preparing doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. You can get a surprising amount of useful survival preps with just 5 bucks and… Read More

Water Filtration Systems have a set lifespan. After a while the filters just get worn out. You can use coffee filters to extend the life of your water filter. Zack and I did a quick demonstration of this system in Mason jars to show how effective it can be. (Click for larger pictures) Pre-filtering water… Read More